As I sit here, exhausted but euphoric, I just wanted to reflect on today's Hipster's Craft Fair:

I'm thankful that I finally got to shop myself at the end of the day, and it's the first time I've ever, ever done Christmas shopping in July, and I feel so good about it!

Melissa Maher won the Amy Butler picnic blanket, and $65 went to Basket of Hope, in memory of sweet Nolan Johnson, pictured here:

Robyn (one of my favorite bloggers) due to give birth any day now to a baby boy, came by, and looks gorgeous and svelte despite being 9 mos. pregnant.

Crafter Kim now has an adopted younger sister.....the daughter of crafter Melanie, who modeled one of Kim's aprons all day and stuck like glue to Kim!

I'm inspired and proud of all the young ones who helped today at the craft fair:

*Aline and Ian, who helped their mom Diana sell her gorgeous wares.
*Wren and her brother (egad I forgot his name), who sold their creations to donate the funds to support the cause of saving sea turtles.
*Melanie's daughter Keri Lynn (so sorry if I misspelled), who patiently hung out with mom all day and modeled Kim's apron, and who always looked happy when I saw her!
*Taylor, going into high school this year and a helper to me this summer at the store, who showed up and did every little job I put her to as I ran around like a chicken with my head cut off!
*and my girls, Jane & Claire, who have tirelessly helped me this summer, and then decided they wanted to participate in the craft fair, so worked the past 2 weeks sewing - headbands, and weaving - potholders - to sell.

I feel very blessed and thankful to be able to have to done this craft fair - I feel so strongly about supporting local artists.  I was talking to a friend about how hard it was for me to do craft shows in the past - my heart and soul is out there on the table, with what I've created.  So I have such huge respect and admiration for all the women who were there today, and the local talent that we have here in Albuquerque.  Thank you for participating.....for sharing your craft,  your art, with the community!

Pictures of the fair to come....

So here's what some Hip Stitchers have been up to lately:

Tracey covered this chair, found, literally, on the side of the road, with Amy Butler's laminated cotton.  Now, I'm not an expert, but can't you see this at some foo-foo boutique in L.A. selling for $100?!  (yes, I realize foo-foo is not a real expression)

And, my niece Jenn and I finally finished making her Amy Butler Lotus Cami.  We started this together last fall, and daily life as being moms and wives and worker bees got in the way until we picked it up again, and voila:

If you look close, you can see the teeny tiny skulls on the fabric - I think it's Alexander Henry? - we carried it last fall.  Jenn is such a great combination of feminine & funky - and I say that as a compliment.  Pink?  No.  Ruffles?  No.  But this cami, with just a touch of gathering on the cap sleeves despite black skulls fabric?  Perfect!  She's also a knitter, and the buttons on the back she found at our own Village Wools.

And finally, Bralia brought in her latest quilt top:

She used a mix of Alexander Henry's 2-D Zoo, Heather Bailey's Nicey Jane, and tossed in some Michael Miller - fabulous!

Finally, for no reason - cowboy boots I've been wanting for 20 years....since moving to New Mexico.  I found this great pair in Madrid, at Red Bone - where there's a great selection of used boots.  NOW I feel like a real western gal!

The photo was taken at our B&B in Madrid, Java Junction.  It was funky, and rustic, and quaint, and a wonderful retreat!

Hollywood, here we come!

A few weeks ago I interviewed with Good Day New Mexico.....here it is!

KOB.com - Learn to sew at Hip Stitch

Egad, was I ever nervous!!

Creating around here

My girls and I have been on a sewing binge lately.  Which makes me particularly happy, because they don't always love to sew.....things like school and sports and music also take a major part in their lives, and I have to accept that (can't we just sew all day together?!)
The other day, they were in the store, and were whispering and plotting and looking at fabrics, and they finally came to me and said they decided on a pattern - the Favorite Things Little Nighty Night.  They chose fabric and got to sewing.  Five o clock came around, the closed sign went up, and we retreated to the lounge and sewed and sewed.  We finally went home at 8:00, with finished camisoles, and stayed up at home making the shorts.  Now, I know I'm the mom here, so I'm a little biased, but I think they just did a smashing job, and I love, love, love this pattern!  Here's Jane in her creation:

Claire took hers to a sleepover last night, so I wasn't able to take a photo....I'll post one later.
THEN, yesterday I had a slew of customers who had my head swimming with ideas and inspiration.  Karen from Florida, visiting grandchildren here, and a serious quilter, and Stephanie, from Arkansas, who was wearing an adorable top she had made....and we got to talking about sewing and such.  Well, Stephanie, you inspired me to get to work and make the Summer Blouse from Weekend Sewing....here it is:

A few tweaks here and there, but I love it!  Made from Anna Maria Horner's voile, it feels like I'm wrapped in silk!
A few updates on the store front:

Anna Maria Horner's trunk show will be arriving June 16 - that's a Wednesday.  We got the official confirmation from UPS.  A bit later than we originally thought, but we're just as excited!

I neglected to get the word out about a change in the Modern Quilt Guild meeting being postponed this month, and I'm so so sorry to Kathy and Janet, in particular, who showed up the other night for the meeting.  It will be Wednesday, June 23, from 6-8.  Please come!

We're having a Hip Stitch-sponsored Hipster's Craft Fair July 10, from 10-5.  Crafters are welcome - $20 per table.  Please email or call to sign up - tables are filling fast!

Studio Tour - Dagmar

Yes, yes, I know, I actually wrote in this blog that I'd be doing weekly studio tours....wow, was I ambitious!  Life indeed got in the way of that!

However, Dagmar and I finally managed to connect - slowly, via email - and I have another tour for you!  Dagmar left last week for Germany - she goes every summer with her beautiful children, for about 3 weeks, to visiting her home.  Thank goodness she graciously sent back answers to my 'interview' questions before she left!

Dagmar and I met a few years back at Trader Joe's....which we laugh about, because we both have made some great friends there.  She spotted a tote bag I had made and was carrying - it was bright orange and pink, which coincidentally are colors that she's drawn to and look fabulous on her.  We struck up a conversation and have been friends since!

She's primarily a knitter - as well as dyeing, spinning, felting wool.  As far as other crafts?  Well, it's more like what DOESN'T she do?!  Here's our interview:

ME:  Do you listen to anything while you work? 

when i knit/crochet i do audiobooks, mysteries, favorite: the prey series by john sandford.

ME: What's your favorite tool, whether it be for knitting, spinning, sewing, cardmaking - anything - what do you love to use?
 

knitting needles, for the lonely island - i'd spin coconutfibers and be a happy knitter...

ME: At what age did you start your artistic creating?  What's the 1st thing you made?

i made a super ugly floppy doll, long and skinny - and loved the thing to no end, always had to have him for sleeping. i was probably 8?! today he means nothing to me... strange...

ME: Do you go through "seasons" of creating?  Ever need time off?  if so, what brings you back?

i am like a butterfly, i nibble here and nibble there, switch crafts, but knit the most. when i don't have at least 2 active projects (not counting older unfinished objects in the closet) i get nervous.

it is usually an up and down with other crafts, like scrapbooking, crochet, bookbinding, marbling, papermaking, rughooking, felting....

And now pictures from her beautiful studio....how can one NOT be inspired to create in a space like this? 

Here are dyed woolens drying on the line.....to become strips for rughooking......a spinning wheel in the foreground, and a rughooking piece on the sofa in the background:

Wool being spun......and one wall of the studio - such vibrant color!

Various tools stored in sheep-themed holders.  Dagmar's business is called "Sheep on a Spring."  What I think I love most about her space is how her children's creativity is scattered about, also - displayed on the walls, a project in the making here and there.  She encourages them to create, also, and when I'm with them, I love to chat and just hang out with them - the little artists they are!

Sale!

Tomorrow and Saturday, (May 14/15), all Anna Maria Horner fabrics and patterns are 20% off at Hip Stitch!  A great time to stock up on her groovy patterns and that luscious voile!  We also have a selection of her home decorator cottons.

9 hours left......

At the risk of totally embarrassing Portia (some of you know her.....customer, friend and teacher at Hip Stitch), she's entered a gorgeous top in a Spring Top contest on this blog: http://www.made-by-rae.com/.  

Now, I'm sorry if you're embarrassed, Portia, but as you all know, I love our local artists, and feel VERY STRONGLY about supporting/promoting them.  So if you're reading this, and it's before 6 a.m. Tuesday morning, VOTE for Portia's top!

And to take Portia out of the limelight for a moment, I'm throwing Ann into it.  Ann makes the Re-use it bags that we sell at the store.  You know the ones - velcro closure, lined w/a safe non-PVC waterproof, washable vinyl.....well, they've been flying out the door of Hip Stitch - I think the word is finally catching that we can stop buying ziplock baggies and throwing them away!  She's making them as fast as she can.....uses?  sandwiches, snacks, pacifiers, to name just a few!

Check out her blog.....wallets and lunch bags are also her specialty!